Dealing with App Store Apple Password Requirements

Every time I use my iPhone 4S or iPod Touch to download apps off the App Store, a window pops up requesting for my Apple ID password. I enter the password, and it’s wrong. I try again. Wrong password. After a couple of tries when I finally remember my long password, I get to download the app from the App Store.

Sure, this doesn’t happen every day, but it has happened with me on countless occasions. The current iOS 5.1, similar to the older versions, doesn’t save or remember the passwords we enter. My Apple ID password is, of course, entirely different than my “main” password. Why? Because of Apple’s password requirement which strictly suggests users to add digits, uppercase letters and much more. Any Apple password:

Must have at least one letter.

Must have at least one capital letter.

Must have at least one number.

Should not contain multiple identical consecutive characters.

Should not be the same as the account name.

Should be at least 8 characters.

Should not be a common password.

Having a complex password can definitely protect your Apple account, but mixing capital letters with numbers is something I was not used to. So I came up with this strategy to have an Apple password that is not only stronger but one I could easily remember without racking my brain.

Note that remembering any password requires practice. That said, the tip below can help you make difficult passwords in a couple of seconds and remember them easily whenever the need arises:

How to Remember Apple ID Password:

Pick a word (lowercase)

Pick a number

Pick an animal (uppercase)

Mix them together.

New Password example:

Pick a word: blogote

Pick a number: 555

Pick an animal: CAT

The key here is to mix them such that you will never forget. This is how I do:

The first letter in blogote is b.

The first digit in 555 is 5.

The first letter in CAT is C.

b5C is the first part of my password. Similarly, the second letter in blogote is l. The second digit in 555 is 5, and the second letter in CAT is A. I have l5A that is the second part of password. In other words, I am moving one column at a time.

You can mix them in your own ways to create a strong password. You can also add the site’s name (Apple instead of blogote) while keeping the digit and animal the same. This way you can generate unlimited number of unique passwords for every important site.